Lewis and Clark County, Montana

Lewis and Clark County
County
The "Sleeping Giant" formation north of Helena
The "Sleeping Giant" formation north of Helena
Official seal of Lewis and Clark County
Seal
Map of Montana highlighting Lewis and Clark County
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Map of the United States highlighting Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°07′N 112°23′W / 47.11°N 112.38°W / 47.11; -112.38
Country United States
State Montana
FoundedJune 2, 1865
Named forMeriwether Lewis and William Clark
SeatHelena
Largest cityHelena
Area
 • Total
3,498 sq mi (9,060 km2)
 • Land3,459 sq mi (8,960 km2)
 • Water39 sq mi (100 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
70,973
 • Estimate 
(2022)
73,832 Increase
 • Density20/sq mi (7.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.lccountymt.gov/home.html
  • Montana county number 05

Lewis and Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 70,973.[1] Its county seat is Helena,[2] the state capital. The numerical designation for Lewis and Clark County (used in the issuance of the state's license plates) is 5. The county was established on June 2, 1865, as one of the nine original counties of the Territory of Montana named Edgerton County in honor of Sidney Edgerton, first Governor of the Territory of Montana, and was renamed Lewis and Clark County on March 1, 1868, in honor of explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.[3][4] Lewis and Clark County is part of the Helena, Montana Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,498 square miles (9,060 km2), of which 3,459 square miles (8,960 km2) is land and 39 square miles (100 km2) (1.1%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18705,040—
18806,52129.4%
189019,145193.6%
190019,1710.1%
191021,85314.0%
192018,660−14.6%
193018,224−2.3%
194022,13121.4%
195024,54010.9%
196028,00614.1%
197033,28118.8%
198043,03929.3%
199047,49510.4%
200055,71617.3%
201063,39513.8%
202070,97312.0%
2022 (est.)73,832[6]4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960,[8] 1900–1990,[9]
1990–2000,[10] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 70,973 people living in the county.[citation needed]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 63,395 people, 26,694 households, and 16,705 families in the county. The population density was 18.3 inhabitants per square mile (7.1/km2). There were 30,180 housing units at an average density of 8.7 per square mile (3.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.0% white, 2.1% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.5% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 29.2% were German, 19.3% were Irish, 15.0% were English, 8.9% were Norwegian, and 5.1% were American.

Of the 26,694 households, 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.4% were non-families, and 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 40.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,238 and the median income for a family was $65,573. Males had a median income of $44,476 versus $34,893 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,894. About 5.8% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Lewis and Clark County leans slightly Republican, but it has voted for Democratic candidates three times since 1964. Bill Clinton won by nearly seven percentage points in 1992, but Bob Dole won by 130 votes in 1996. Barack Obama carried the county in 2008 but lost it to Mitt Romney in 2012. In recent elections, the county has voted Republican but only by narrow margins.

United States presidential election results for Lewis and Clark County, Montana[11][12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 21,479 50.82% 19,085 45.16% 1,699 4.02%
2020 21,409 50.64% 19,743 46.70% 1,121 2.65%
2016 16,895 47.87% 14,478 41.02% 3,923 11.11%
2012 16,803 50.43% 15,620 46.88% 895 2.69%
2008 14,966 45.31% 17,114 51.82% 949 2.87%
2004 16,494 55.27% 12,717 42.61% 632 2.12%
2000 15,091 55.34% 9,982 36.61% 2,196 8.05%
1996 11,665 43.94% 11,535 43.45% 3,347 12.61%
1992 9,351 35.72% 11,117 42.47% 5,711 21.82%
1988 10,946 46.91% 11,932 51.14% 456 1.95%
1984 13,569 59.97% 8,768 38.75% 289 1.28%
1980 12,128 57.18% 6,815 32.13% 2,269 10.70%
1976 10,155 54.84% 8,118 43.84% 244 1.32%
1972 10,719 61.90% 6,081 35.12% 516 2.98%
1968 7,979 56.53% 5,379 38.11% 757 5.36%
1964 6,155 44.97% 7,506 54.84% 26 0.19%
1960 7,260 54.65% 6,008 45.22% 17 0.13%
1956 7,959 64.41% 4,397 35.59% 0 0.00%
1952 7,663 62.58% 4,563 37.26% 20 0.16%
1948 5,174 50.85% 4,745 46.63% 257 2.53%
1944 4,482 48.41% 4,737 51.17% 39 0.42%
1940 4,762 44.58% 5,814 54.42% 107 1.00%
1936 2,951 33.82% 5,614 64.34% 160 1.83%
1932 3,671 42.71% 4,714 54.84% 211 2.45%
1928 4,441 57.35% 3,278 42.33% 25 0.32%
1924 3,433 49.93% 1,869 27.19% 1,573 22.88%
1920 4,348 62.90% 2,413 34.91% 152 2.20%
1916 3,423 42.99% 4,337 54.47% 202 2.54%
1912 1,062 24.50% 1,505 34.72% 1,768 40.78%
1908 2,033 45.89% 2,062 46.55% 335 7.56%
1904 2,505 54.60% 1,543 33.63% 540 11.77%
1900 2,043 42.03% 2,763 56.84% 55 1.13%
1896 1,057 21.07% 3,939 78.53% 20 0.40%
1892 2,014 38.14% 2,093 39.64% 1,173 22.22%

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Education

School districts include:

K-12 (Unified):[29]

High school:[29]

Elementary school:[29]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Montana Place Names Companion". Montana Place Names From Alzada to Zortman. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 185.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  11. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  12. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,375 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 391 votes and Write-in candidate Eugene Chafin received 2 votes.
  13. ^ Austin MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  14. ^ Bald Butte MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  15. ^ Birdseye MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  16. ^ Canyon Ferry MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  17. ^ Dearborn, Lewis & Clark County MT Google Maps (accessed September 4, 2019)
  18. ^ Fort Harrison Army Air Park MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  19. ^ Four Range MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  20. ^ Frontier Town MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  21. ^ Gearing MT (accessed January 2, 2019)
  22. ^ La Chapelle Place MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  23. ^ Nelson MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  24. ^ Silver City MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  25. ^ Stoner Place MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  26. ^ Weed MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  27. ^ Wilborn MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  28. ^ Winston MT Google Maps (accessed January 2, 2019)
  29. ^ a b c "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lewis and Clark County, MT" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2024. - Text list

47°07′N 112°23′W / 47.11°N 112.38°W / 47.11; -112.38